Friday, August 29, 2014

Pratt and Whitney is close to performing tests on a potential design change for its F135 engine following a June fire aboard an F-35 fighter as it was getting ready to take off at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The June 23 fire was caused by "excessive" rubbing of a fan blade inside the engine of an F-35A model, the Air Force variant. Inspectors are still investigating the root cause to determine if it was a manufacturing or design flaw, but in the meantime the company has begun design on a solution. Speaking to Defense News on Aug. 25, Gen. Mark Welsh, the Air Force chief of staff, expressed confidence that the issue was close to being resolved. The fire forced the grounding of the F-35, which was not able to make two shows in the UK. It has been flying with limitations since then. (Source: Navy Times, 08/28/14)